Father, son a winning combination

Two generations of the Skaparas family at 11 Rochelle St. have won the local Elks Hoop Shoot, but only one is state champion.

Auburn High basketball coach Andy Niedzwiecki take note: Jared Skaparas, 9, not only won the local district and state free-throw contests, but last month took the overall prize for making the most free throws among all players ages 8 to 13 during the state competition.

Jared said he hopes to one day make the team at Auburn High School, then at college, then become a Boston Celtic like his favorite player, Paul Pierce.

Jared will represent the Auburn Lodge of Elks and the state of Massachusetts in his age group at the New England Regional Finals in Portland, Maine, March 23. Winners of that contest will go on to Springfield for a chance to become national champions.

William Ferrick, Massachusetts director of the Elks Hoop Shoot, said approximately 3 million children aged 8 to 13 compete in the annual event nationwide.

“Our national champions receive a large trophy and Olympic-style medals, and their names are inscribed on a plaque in the national Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield.”

Jared’s brother Justin, 10, also holds a first place trophy from a previous local hoop shoot and placed third in his division this year.

The boys’ father, Mark Skaparas, owner of Aletheia Consulting Group of Auburn, also won a local Elks Hoop Shoot in his youth before becoming a member of the basketball team at Oliver Ames High School in Easton. While at UMass Amherst, he did not play but remained involved with the team, and he has continued to enjoy the sport ever since. He coaches four youth basketball teams in Auburn and has passed on his love of the game to his children.

“Jared topped me as state champ. Now we’ll see how far he goes. What’s most important is that he has fun.”

Jared said, “I practice every day. My dad has given me some good tips.”

He said the secret of a good free throw is to follow through.

At the state championships, he made 21 of 25 foul shots, and in a final playoff with a 13-year-old made four out of five free throws to win the competition’s overall high scorer award and a trophy nearly as tall as he is.

Jared is a top student at the Julia Bancroft School and also is a pitcher and first baseman on the Auburn Fire Little League Team, which is coached by Mr. Skaparas.

“It breaks my heart to see kids sitting on the couch when they could be outside having fun. Sports teach kids many valuable lessons. They learn how to be a member of a team, and they learn that in life, no one always wins. When you lose, just get back up and try again. I’m very competitive, but at the end of day, have fun,” he said.

The entire Skaparas family, including Mr. Skaparas’ wife, April, and daughter, Lydia, 7, do have fun. They ran in last fall’s Klepto 5K, held in memory of U.S. Air Force Major David Brodeur, and participate in many other local charity events.

“My goal is to teach the kids what I wish I had known when I was their age,” Mr. Skaparas said.

Mr. Ferrick said the Elks also believe in the value of competition and sports for children.

“We have always considered the youth of our country as its most treasured national resource. Involvement in our program teaches self-discipline, respect, dedication, loyalty and individual responsibility. We hope it teaches them good sportsmanship and self-esteem in addition to giving them a chance to excel and become a national champion.”

State champion hoop-shooters scheduled to represent Massachusetts in their age groups in Maine on March 23 are: Jared Skaparas of Auburn, Avery Burns of Orleans, Cameron Quest of Hudson, Katie North of Hanover, James Powers of Leominster and Emily Haskell of North Attleboro.